Pyrokittytreats: thank you very much! Aah, I just love it when people like my stories. Enjoy!

Blackdranzergurl: Well, here ya go, the next chappy – thanks for reviewing, glad you like it!

Aaand the usual disclaimer: Nope, don't own Kai or the rest of them, but do own Chris and Quick Silver. Don't you dare copy. I will KILL! brandishes BIG mallet

Chapter Two: Bitter Remembrance

"…He is so cute!"

"I know – in the magazine…"

"…tell me about it…"

"…do you really think he'll notice if I wear this…"

"…totally hot, that guy…"

The following Monday, the entire Academy was abuzz with anticipation and excitement, even for the newly arrived bladers – on the girls' part, at least. Chris passed a group of girls in the corridor and heard the same conversation going on yet again ("He is so mine…no, I bet you he'll notice me first…You've gotta be kidding…"). She herself never partook in that kind of gossip – she felt awkward and uncomfortable in it. Better to settle differences in the beystadium where it was just one-on-one. Or, if need be, a swift rabbit-punch to the head took care of things pretty quickly. She smiled a little humourlessly as she sat in the morning's lessons, wondering about Kai. Would he live up to that promise? How much had he changed? Would he even…remember her?

Kai looked around his room. Large glass windows, light and airy. White walls. Not at all to his liking, but he wasn't complaining. He'd be out of here soon anyway, once they realised he wasn't to be equalled.

Once lessons had ended, Chris walked out of class quickly, yearning to get a bit of beyblading done to clear the arithmetic and trigonometry and verbs and tenses that were whirling confusingly around her head. It was now three o'clock and the gym was empty. Just the way she liked it. Feeling the thrill that always accompanied the launching of her blade, the bluenette took a deep breath and relaxed a little, before pulling the ripcord through the launcher with practised skill and watching in satisfaction as her dark blue and silver beyblade – inhabited by her cheetah bitbeast, Quick Silver - slammed into the dish.

Kai glanced at his watch. Three o'clock. Making sure Dranzer and his launcher were safely in his pocket, Kai locked his room and went on down to the gym. He ignored the gasps and looks being sent his way – they could all go to hell for all he cared. He walked silently into the gym, realising there was already someone there. His auburn eyes widened ever so slightly when he took a good look at the person standing by the dish. There was no mistaking her.

Chris.

He smirked a little. Maybe it was time he eliminated the immediate danger.

A royal blue blade suddenly smashed into Quick Silver, knocking the beyblade violently off-course. Chris let out a yell of outrage – she had been trying to perfect that manoeuvre for weeks now – and whirled around to see who had the guts to do that.

She froze completely. Her mouth opened, yet no sound came out. She was suddenly and uncomfortably aware of the yawning silence between her and Kai. But he wasn't being distracted. Dranzer was defeating Quick Silver in no time at all; Chris hadn't enough time to get her wits together before her blue blade was back in her hand.

"If you're going to blade like that," Kai said abruptly and coldly, "You're wasting your time."

Icy shock mixed in with hot anger bubbled in Chris's heart, pushing out the hurt she was experiencing previously. She turned on him.

"That wasn't fair!" she said furiously. "You just took me by surprise!" And not just with your beyblading either… she added silently. Why are you so…cold?

"Life isn't fair." He replied, turning and preparing to walk out again. He lifted a hand and didn't even look back as Dranzer flew into his waiting palm.

"Kai!" Chris couldn't stop his name escaping her lips.

He turned around and looked at her as she fumbled for the words in her mind. She had changed. No, that wasn't the word. She was just the same as ever – those expressive deep crimson eyes, the dark blue hair, the fiery temper; even the love for black combats. No, she hadn't changed. She had grown up. There were some things that weren't there before…the slender figure, the air of quiet confidence. Somehow, the excitable seven-year-old he had once known had disappeared andwasreplaced by this sixteen-year-old with the bright eyes and proudly poised head.

"Don't go," Chris said rather feebly. Kai hesitated for a fraction of a second, before pulling his priorities into place. He had no time for her now. He turned and walked away, leaving a heavy, screaming silence in his wake. And he knew he couldn't fill it.

Chris felt confused. Confused and angry and hurt and a million other things pounding on her head and pulsing around her heart, making it ache in a way it had never done before. Kai had gone, and a strange paralysis flooded Chris's limbs. She didn't know what to do with herself. She had been looking forward to meeting him again, sharing old stories, laughing.

Laughing.

She shook her head, staring numbly at her beyblade. Who was she kidding? Kai had changed.

He…promised.

She suddenly clenched her fists, hot tears dimming the glow in her eyes and blurring her vision.

He promised!

Chris turned on her heel and ran out of the Academy.

haha. There's some fluff coming up, but I'm not getting to it unless you all review...